Indy Audio Labs is preparing to launch a lineup of complementary pre-amps and home theater processors that are web-enabled and integrate fully with its current amplifier offerings.
These revolutionary new products are being positioned by the company as “the first separate pre-amps and pre-pros designed to meet the needs and expectations of today’s mobile generation.” Indy Audio Labs’ proprietary web-enabling technology, dubbed “E2C” for “Enhanced Ethernet Control,” allows all of their products to be recognized by and talk to other devices on the home network.
The first of the new models to launch is the Acurus ACT-4, a 7.1 home theater pre-amp processor. The ACT-4 provides all the modern HD audio and movie formats and incorporates the latest-spec HDMI features. The ACT-4 offers both the end-user and the installer a rich User Interface (UI) that rivals the latest mobile devices in appearance and ease of operation.
According to Ted Moore, Indy Audio Labs’ CTO, “People today are accustomed to rich UI experiences on their smartphones, tablets, and in their vehicles. Even special-purpose devices like thermostats and refrigerators have attractive, intuitive, web-based interfaces. While many competitors in home AV still rely on antiquated 2-line character displays, today’s customers expect much more, especially from a piece of high-end gear. We’ve integrated a front-panel touch screen that more closely resembles a mobile phone with full-color graphics and simple-to-comprehend icons.”
With the introduction of these new pre-amp models, Indy Audio Labs offers its customers complete, fully integrated high-performance separates with direct mobile interactivity, the company says.
“To provide our customers with the modern interface they want, we’ve built-in a rich graphic display in our new pre-amps and home theater processors that provides the level of convenience and control modern customers have come to expect,” said Joe Land, director of engineering. “Our rich UI is accessible not only from the front panel of the unit but also through our web-app, built into every product we make. This saves time and reduces the typical hassles associated with setup and operation of an AV system.”
Indy Audio Labs reports that internal functional demos of the ACT-4 have already begun in Indianapolis with public demonstrations and field tests to follow in August and September, just prior to CEDIA Expo 2013 in Denver. The ACT-4 sells for $3999 US MSRP and will be on demo at CEDIA EXPO where the company will take orders for delivery later this year.
